Mounting device for use in orthodontics



v Feb. 15, 1955 V. LANE MOUNTING DEVICE FOR USE IN ORTHODONTICS Filed Oct. 22, 1953 FIG. 2.

a n J I i W INVENTOR VICTOR LANE ATTORNEYS United States Patent My invention relates to improvements in devices used in the art of orthodontics, a subdivision of dentistry.

As is well known, it is frequently desirable to change the positions of human teeth. Thus, in the case of a specific tooth, it may be desirable to move the tooth forwards, backwards, to the left or to the right, to twist the tooth from its natural position, or to vary the position of the tooth in more than one of the above ways. Furthermore, it is frequently desirable to change the positions of a plurality, or perhaps all of the teeth in the human mouth.

In conventional practice, when it is desired to change the positions of one or more teeth, metal bands are respectively placed around selected teeth, and brackets are respectively fixed to the respective bands. A wire, which has first been annealed to set it in a selected shape, is then fixed to the brackets. As a result of fixing the wire to the brackets, the wire is bent from its pre-set shape. The Wire tends to return to its pre-set shape, and accordingly, exerts a force upon selected teeth to realign their positions.

At periodic intervals, it is necessary to remove the wire from the brackets and re-anneal it to a. new selected shape, or else to remove one or more brackets from their associated bands and reset said brackets upon said bands. In either instance, the re-setting procedure is tedious and must be done extremely accurately in order to avoid physiological damage to the teeth.

In accordance with my invention, I do not attach the bracket directly to the band. Instead, I provide a strip of metal which extends circumferentially around a portion of the band and which is fixed at its respective ends to said band. The length of said strip between its attached ends is slightly greater than the circumferential distance between the points on the band to which said strip is attached. Also, said strip is sufiiciently bendable so that it is possible to bend the strip by means of pliers or the like, although the tension exerted thereon by the aforementioned wire is not nearly suflicient to bend the strip.

Brackets are attached to the respective strips intermediate their ends. The wire is connected to the brackets in the usual manner. When it is desired to re-set the wire relative to a tooth, in order to vary the direction of the pull exerted on said tooth by said wire, it is merely necessary to bend the strip slightly. It is not necessary to remove the wire from the bracket, and it is not necessary to remove the bracket from the strip.

I have found, in actual practice, that when said strips are used as the means for mounting the brackets on the bands, a substantial amount of time and labor is saved in making periodic adjustments in the wiring of a patients mouth. In addition, less professional skill is required to remove the wire, re-anneal the wire and reattach the wire to the brackets. At the most, it is only necessary at rare intervals to re-set any of the brackets on the strips, or to re-set the wire on the brackets.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the annexed drawings in which a preferred embodiment is disclosed. The drawings are substantially to scale of working models of my invention.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional band for mounting upon a tooth, a mounting strip in accordance with my invention and a bracket for mounting upon said band by means of said strip.

Figure 2 is a front elevation showing the parts of Figure 1 in assembled relation.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the mounting strip bent in order to vary the position of the bracket relative to the axis of the tooth.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a top plan view showing two assemblies similar to that of Figure 2, and showing a wire connected to the two brackets. i

Figure 6 is a front elevation of a portion of the human mouth, showing several teeth wired with the use of the mounting strip in accordance with my invention.

Upon reference to the drawings in detail, it will be noted that they show a conventional band 10, a conventional bracket 11, a conventional wire 12 and a mounting strip 13 in accordance with my invention. Said band 10 is roughly cylindrical in shape and comprises a flat strip of metal which is bent upon itself so that its edges overlap.

Figure 6 shows a portion of a human gum 14 having three teeth 15 embedded therein. Figure 6 shows a band 10 mounted upon each of said teeth 15. Said band 10 extends around the peripheral outer side wall of said teeth 15. It will be apparent, although not illustrated, that the overlapping ends of band 10 are overlapped sufiiciently to hold band 10 firmly in place upon teeth 15, and are then soldered or welded together. During the whole process of tooth straightening, the bands 10 remain rigidly anchored upon the teeth.

For convenience, the axes of teeth 15 will be defined as extending generally transversely. Accordingly, the axis of each band 10, as shown in the drawings, extends generally transversely.

Strip 13 is made of a relatively thin metal. For example, strip 13 may be made of 0.006 gauge steel. Strip 13 may also be made of gold or other precious metal. Strip 13 is optionally and preferably axially elongated. Optionally, strip 13 has two axially extending and axially elongated holes 16. As a result, strip 13 has a central portion 17 between the proximate ends of holes 16, end portions 18 beyond the remote ends of holes 16 and connecting portions 19 above and below the respective holes 16 and respectively connecting the central portion 17 and the respective end portions 18.

Strip 13 is positioned on the outer face of band 10 with said strip 13 extending circumferentially around a portion of band 10. In usual practice, strip 13 extends laterally across the major portion of the front face of band 10, said front face of band 10 being defined as the portion of band 10 which is adjacent the front face of its associated tooth 15.

The respective end portions 18 of strip 13 are fixed to band 10 by any suitable means, such as soldering, welding or spot-welding. The length of strip 13, as measured along the portion thereof between the areas which are connected to band 10, is preferably greater than the minor arc distance between the areas of band 10 which are connected to strip 13, as measured along the circumference of band 10. This is clearly shown in the band and strip on the right of Figure 5. As a result, it is possible to bend strip 13 relative to band 10.

Bracket 11 is preferably fixed to the central portion 17 of strip 13 by any suitable means such as soldering or welding. Bracket 11 is conventional, and is merely intended to be illustrative of one type of bracket which may be mounted upon strip 13. A number of other types of brackets are commonly used for mounting wire 12 and may be mounted upon strip 13 in substantially the same manner and in the place of bracket 11.

Since bracket 11 is conventional, it will not be described in great detail. Bracket 11 has a base 20, which is fixed to strip portion 17. Bracket 11 has a channel 21 extending across the front face thereof, said channel 21 extending in a generally lateral direction when bracket 11 is mounted upon strip 17. While Figure 2 shows the axis of channel 21 in substantial alignment with the axis of strip 13, prior to the distortion thereof, it will be apparent that the angle of the axis of channel 21 relative to the axis of strip 13 may be varied by varying the mounting of base 20 upon strip portion 17.

The conventional wire 12 may be extended through of wire 12. However, these details of the mounting of Wire I2 upon bracket I1 are not a part of this invention and may be varied.

It will be apparent that in accordance with conventional practice, wire 12 may be heat-annealed to a selected. shape prior to the attachment of same to the brackets 11. In the attachment of wire l2 to said brackets 20", it is distorted from its normal shape, and as a result, wire 12 exerts a pull upon selected teeth 35 in an, attempt to return to its normal shape. The tension exerted by wire 12 upon a particular tooth 15, over a period of time, tends to move the tooth 15 in a direction so as to reduce the tension exerted thereon by the wire. It. is then necessary to change the setting of the wire relative to said particular tooth, in order to cause a further movement of, the tooth. in previous practice in which bracket 20 was mounted directly upon band 1%, it has been necessary either to remove the wire from all of thebra'ckets, re-anne'al the wire and replace it upon the brackets, or else to re-set one or more brackets upon their associated bands. Sometimes the two processes have been combined. in either case skillful and tedious labor has been required.

In accordance with the present invention, when it is desired to vary the setting of wire 12 relative to one or more teeth 1-5, it is usually onlynecessary to bend or twist one or more strips 13. A few of the ways in which strip 13 may be distorted. from its initial shape of Figures l and- 2' are illustrated in the drawings; but it will be ap parent thatst'ri'p 13- may bebent' or twisted in other ways which. are not shown. I

In. Figure 3 strip central portion 17 and strip connecting portions 19 are shown distorted so as to rotate the. axis of bracket 20 slightly in a clockwise direction, relative to the front face of band it) from its position of Figure 2.. I

In Figure 4', theuppe'n'strip portions 1? are shown as pushed outwardly from band- It and the lower strip ends 19 are shown as pushed toward the front face of band 10, so. asto. tilt. bracket 11-". In the left assembly of Figure. 5,, the portion. of strip 1 3' on the left is pushed toward band: 10;. while the portion of strip 13 on the right is. pulled away from band It in order to produce av different. turning movement of bracket 11 relative to band 10. In the two side assembliesof Figure 6, bracket 11. is turnedrelative to band 10 in the opposite direction from Figure 31 I I It willbe apparent. that. the height of strip 13 need only be great: enough to accommodate the rear face of base 20' of bracket: 11. The: holes 16 are optional, but are preferred because they facilitate the individual bending of the various strip portions 19' in. order to facilitate manipulation of strip 13.. I

In general, any'simpletool maybe used to bend strip 13. The strip 13- need. only, have sufiicient. freedom of movement for small bending and twisting movements, the movements-shown in the drawings being exaggerated for purposes of clarity of illustration. In normal orthodontic work, even though strip 13 may be sufficiently bendable, by manual manipulation, for adjustment of the pos t on ofwire 12, strip 13 is not bent out of its adyusted position by the force exerted thereonby wire 12; The force required' to bend-strip. 13 is-always greater than the force exerted thereonby wire 12.. I I I It will be apparent from theillustrations given 1n the drawings, thatitis a simple matter for a dentist to bend or twist one or more strips 13 slightly when it is necessary to adjust the position of wire 12 relative to one or more teeth 15. It is also a simple matter to correct any error in adjustments of any of the strips i3.

While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of this invention, and have indicated various changes, omissions and additions, which may be made therein, it will be apparent that various other changes, omissions and additions may be made in the invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. In combination with a band for encircling a tooth and a bracket for attaching a wire to said band for orthodontic treatment of said tooth, means for mounting said bracket on said band, said mounting means comprising a strip, opposite end portions of said strip being fixed to the outer face of said band with said end portions circumferentially spaced relative to said outer face, said strip being adapted to have a bracket fixed to the outer face thereof in the portion thereof intermediate said end portions, said intermediate portion being adjustably distortable relative to said band" and being shape-retaining in its various distorted positions.

2. Mounting means in" accordance with claim 1, said strip beingbendable only by a force in excess of the force exerted thereon by said wire when said wire is attached to said strip.

3. In combination with a band for encircling a tooth and a bracket for attaching. a wire to said band'tor orthodontic treatment of said' tooth, rneans for mounting said bracket on said barr'd, said mounting means comprising a bendable strip, opposite end portions of said strip being fixed tothe outer face of said band with said end portions eircumierentially spaced relative to said outer face, said strip havingacentral portion whose outer face is adapted to havesaid bracket fixed thereto, said strip being axially elongated and having a pair of axially extending slotsrespectively extending between the center portion andthe respective end portions, whereby to divide the respective portions of said strip between said center portion and said respective end portionsinto respective upper and lower, individually bendable portions.

4. Mounting means in accordance with claim 3, said strip being adapted: to be'fixedto said band with the length said strip between its connected end portions being greater than the length'of' said' band included between the portions thereof which are respectively connected to said end portions;

5. In combination with a. band for encircling a tooth and abra'cket' forattaching a wire to said band for orthodontic treatment of said tooth, means for mounting said bracket on said band; said mounting means comprising a bendable strip,,opposite end portions of said strip being fixed to the outer face of'said band'with saidend portions circumferentially spaced relative to said outer face, said strip being adapted to' have a bracket fixed to the outer face thereof in'the portion thereof intermediate said end portions, the length of said strip between its connected'e'nd portions being greater than the length of said band included'between the portions thereof which are respectively connected to said end portions.

6. Mounting means in accordance with claim 1, said strip being bendable onl'y'by a force in excess of the force exerted thereon'bysaidwirewhensaid wire is attached to said strip.-

7. Mounting means in accordance with claim 2, said stripbe ng bendableonly by aforce in-excess of the force exerted thereon-by said wire'when said wire is attached to said strip.

Atkinson Sept. 1, 1931 Bruss'e- Oct. 31, 1950 

